diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/table.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/table.rs
index b70d71b37b..3fbcf3af6b 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/table.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/table.rs
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ impl Command for Table {
                             style: TextStyle::default_field(),
                         },
                         StyledString {
-                            contents: v.into_string(", ", &config),
+                            contents: v.into_abbreviated_string(&config),
                             style: TextStyle::default(),
                         },
                     ])
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ fn convert_to_table(
 
             if headers.is_empty() {
                 // if header row is empty, this is probably a list so format it that way
-                row.push(("list".to_string(), item.into_string(", ", config)))
+                row.push(("list".to_string(), item.into_abbreviated_string(config)))
             } else {
                 for header in headers.iter().skip(1) {
                     let result = match item {
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ fn convert_to_table(
                     match result {
                         Ok(value) => row.push((
                             (&value.get_type()).to_string(),
-                            value.into_string(", ", config),
+                            value.into_abbreviated_string(config),
                         )),
                         Err(_) => row.push(("empty".to_string(), String::new())),
                     }
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
index 501a4d4c02..1dacf68799 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
@@ -328,6 +328,34 @@ impl Value {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Convert Value into string. Note that Streams will be consumed.
+    pub fn into_abbreviated_string(self, config: &Config) -> String {
+        match self {
+            Value::Bool { val, .. } => val.to_string(),
+            Value::Int { val, .. } => val.to_string(),
+            Value::Float { val, .. } => val.to_string(),
+            Value::Filesize { val, .. } => format_filesize(val, config),
+            Value::Duration { val, .. } => format_duration(val),
+            Value::Date { val, .. } => HumanTime::from(val).to_string(),
+            Value::Range { val, .. } => {
+                format!(
+                    "{}..{}",
+                    val.from.into_string(", ", config),
+                    val.to.into_string(", ", config)
+                )
+            }
+            Value::String { val, .. } => val,
+            Value::List { vals: val, .. } => format!("[list {} items]", val.len()),
+            Value::Record { cols, .. } => format!("{{record {} fields}}", cols.len()),
+            Value::Block { val, .. } => format!("<Block {}>", val),
+            Value::Nothing { .. } => String::new(),
+            Value::Error { error } => format!("{:?}", error),
+            Value::Binary { val, .. } => format!("{:?}", val),
+            Value::CellPath { val, .. } => val.into_string(),
+            Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => val.value_string(),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Convert Value into a debug string
     pub fn debug_value(self) -> String {
         format!("{:#?}", self)